'The objective of the robbery was something
in the region of £10million in sterling and mixed foreign currency,' he
told the court, but the actual proceeds amounted to £1.75million that
remain largely un-recovered.

Lord Judge described trial by jury
as a 'hallowed principle' of British justice, but said the Criminal
Justice Act did allow a trial to he heard by a judge alone in certain
circumstances.

Crown Prosecution Service guidance on non-jury
trials warns they are a ' procedural step' and not 'a finding of guilt
or innocence'.

Attempts were made to try the men using a series
of stringent measures, costing up to £6million for a six-month trial,
to protect the jury .

But Lord Judge ruled such costs were too high.

The
men variously deny 18 charges including conspiracy to rob, robbery,
attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and possession of firearms and
ammunition.